title: The effect of chronic cadmium toxicity on blood pressure and plasma viscosity.
abstract: Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal which affects many systems in humans and animals as a consequence of environmental and industrial pollution. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic Cd toxicity on blood pressure and plasma viscosity. Experimental group rats were given doses that contained 15 ppm CdCl(2) in drinking water for 8 weeks. The systolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured from rats' tails and recorded by plethysmography every two weeks. Blood samples were drawn, Cd levels were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer and plasma viscosity values by viscometer. Blood Cd levels were found to be significantly higher in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The whole blood analysis was made by an analyzer. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes increased (p < 0.01) and lymphocyte number (p < 0.05) decreased in the experimental group. Viscosity values were 2.21 ± 0.54 and 1.62 ± 0.31 centipoises in the experimental and control groups, respectively (p < 0.001). In the experimental group, changes in systolic blood pressure between weeks were significant (p < 0.001) and were found to be correlated with plasma viscosity (p < 0.001). In the experimental group, changes in heart rate between weeks were significant (p < 0.001). According to our findings, Cd toxicity may lead to an increase in blood pressure by increasing plasma viscosity.
authors.affiliation: Pathophysiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey. mkocak@epdk.org.tr
authors.forename: Mehtap
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kacar Kocak
authors.forename: Nuray
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yazihan
authors.forename: Ethem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akcil
authors.forename: Meltem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bay
authors.forename: Onder
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aslan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D019256:Cadmium Chloride / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D019256:Cadmium Chloride